Permutation lock



May 18 1926.

E. E. QUAIYNTANCE PERMUTATION LOCK Filed Dec. 26, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l al lllll-Illlll @Toa Ashram-H f. pan/ronca 14j-Tonner May 18 1926. Y 1,585,045

A E. E. ,QUANTAN'CE PERMUTATI ON LOCK Filed Dec. 26, A1924 l2 Sheets-Sheet Patented May 1S, IQ.

unir starre LSSSe F Fl C E PERMUTATON Loox.

Application sied December 26,1924. seriai no. 757,989.

My present invention being referred to as a permutation lock, it may be understood to be an object off this invention to providel a simple-, reliable and effective lock requiring no key; and it is an especiall object of this invention to provide' an improved lock of the'general type referred to whose princi` ples are capable of very wide application, being suitable for embodiment not only in door locks, as hereinafter specifically described `by way of illustration, but `in pad locks and other locks either permanentlyl incorporated in larger structures or adapted tobe sold and used as separate articles.

`It is an object of this invention to provide a permutation lock, which may, in many respects, resemble locks heretofore patented by me, such as, for example,l the lock disclosed in my Patent No. 1,238,435 granted August 28th, 1917, but in which the parts are comparatively few in number and are, for the most part, adapted to be made from sheet meta-l or tubular or other inexpensive stock, although capable of being organized to produce a substantially tool-proof and tan'rper-proof lock.

lt is a 'further object of this invention to provide a permutation lock comprising i luted tumblers exposed for manual manipulation and adapted to be assembled into an organization which may be superficially resemble a door handle or a drawer pull, the mentioned tumble-rs being preferably provided with stop discsvariably inserted there-v in and so related to one another and to coen )eratingparts that, to unlock the same all tumblers vmay Vrotate in the same direction with reference to an arbitrary zero.

lt a further object of this invention to provide a permutation'lock which can be opened even in the dark by any person iniormed vas to the correct key or combination number and possessed of normal hearing, audible means being provided to indicate the. extentot movement of each tumbler.

lt is further object of this invention as the saine may be embodied in a door lock, yor the like, to provide an organization enabling' a door to be opened at will from the interior, although preventing` unauthorized opening` of the same from the outside; and a preferred embodiment of my invention may also comprise means rendering' it entirely impracticable tor an unauthorized persen,- by reliance upon any usual lock picking methods, such as various applicatlonsof pressure and a careful attention to sounds, to open my lock by any means short of a systematic trial of. numbers within the limits of its range. This range may ordinarily be 9999; but itm'ay be any desired smaller orrlarger number.

Other objects and advantages @f my yinvention will appear from the following description of a pret-erred embodiment thereortaken in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figa 1 may be regarded as a horizontal sectional view through the edge of a door to which an embodiment of my invention is applied.

.lfipg 2 is a detail elevational view taken substantially as indicated by the line 2-#2 of Fig. 1. t

F 3 is an elevational view, with parts broken away, taken substantially as indi'- cated by the arrow 3 of Fig; 1, and on a larger scale than said figure.

- Fig; l is a detail view taken substan-l tially as indicated by the line 1 /l of Fig. 3.-

Fig. 5 is a view taken in the plane indicated yby the line 5-5 oit Fig. 3, showing only a split ring hereinafter referred to-r i Fig'. G is a sectional yview taken as indicated by the line 6;@ of 5.v g y Fig. 7 is a substantially lcentral vertical section through a .lock orl the character shown in the precedingrigures. this view beine' taken as indicatedby the line 7 7 ol' Fig'. 1. v

Figs. S, 9 and 10 are respectively hori-A zontal sectional views taken as indicated by the lines 8 8, 9-9 and 10-*10 of Fig. 7.

lleferring to the details of that specific torni of my invention chosen for purposes ot illustration, 11 maybe the body of a door, and 1.2 may be a latch organization ot any usual or preferred character, such as, for example. anorganization comprising a slid ing,` latch bolt 13, with which a pivote-d element 13', or the like may optionally be associated, said latch bolt being movable either by means of a usual square shaft 11i, to which knobs 15, 15 are shown as connected, or by any means engaging a plate 16, or its equivalent, shown as projecting` rearwardly through the housingl of the mentioned latchA organization.v

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The forni of my invention herein specifically described being directed to a control oi a latch bolt which is dependent upon the longitudinal movement of the plate 1b', o1' its equivalent, may provide said plate With means such as a slot 17, adapted to receive a transverse-ly extending main bolt 1S, the .latter being shoivn as provided with means for retaining said plate, and thereby the sliding bolt 13, in its advanced position. For example, in order to accomplish the results referred to, and at the same time facilitate the opening of a door from the interior, l may provide the bolt 1S, or its equivalent, vvith means such as a sleeve 19, shown as rotatable thereon but longitudinally movable thereby (as by the engagement of a screw 20, entering a slot 21), the inner end of this sleeve carrying means such as a dog 22, to engage a stop 23, or its equivalent, on said plate; and the outer end of said sleeve being provided with means, such as a knurled handle or milled head 24: (which may carry a pointer 25, to indicate the position to which the same is adjusted) for independently rotating said sleeve and dog from its operative position to the inoperative position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

By the means described, or by equivalent means, the plate 16, or any element operatively connected ivith a latch, may be released in either of tivo Ways: By rotation of the head or handle 211, the plate 16 may be released from the interior of a room, lifting of dog Q2 permitting the door to be opened upon the rotation of either of the knobs, 15, 15; but its release from the outside may be conditional upon an outward movement of thebelt 18, whereby the dog QQ, or its equivalent, may be advanced out of the plane of the stop 23, substantially as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 7.

and this outnf'ard movement of the boltV 1S, or its equivalent, Whether or not the saine is employed directly as a latch element, may depend upon the proper manipulation of a loci: comprising iii-:ed spindles, split rings splined thereon, and movable tuinblers and pallets associated substantially asl ereinafter described.

One sitie of a door, as the side 2T thereof, I may provide a permutation lock organization comprit-:ing pair of rounded heads or end elements 2S, 2S between and into which may extend a hollow core or spindle 29, this core being sho'ivn as pinned at 30 to one of said heads` and both of said heads being shown as secured by relatively inaccessible cap nuts` on the ends of threaded pins or stud bolts 31, 31 extending through the door 11, and also through plates S2, 3Q optionally' interposed on the respective faces of the door 11. rEhe spindle Q9 may be provided,

as best shown in Figs. o, 9 and l0, with a longitudinal channel 33 adapted to interlit with projections 3l provided on or in each of a plurality of split rings 35, (see Figs. 5, G and 7) splined thereon and interposed as hereinafter described. garded as immaterial 1which of the mentioned parts carries a projection, extending into a channel in the other, and the parts referred to, or their equivalents, may constitute the only stationary elements in the external portions of my novel lock; although l show the same as associated with a pair ot co-opcrating spacing collars 36, 3G at the upper end of the spindle 29, and with an inverted loser spacing collar 37, below which l may optionally insert a pin 3Q. This pin, il used, may serve only to facilitate assembly and to obviate danger of a scattering of parts at such times as my lock may be tal-:cn partially apart, as for the purpose ol changing the combination thereof, at which times only one of the heads or end elements, as the loiver end element 2S need be scparatcil from the spindle 29.

lt Will be noted that one or both of the fi upper spacing collars 3G, 36 are slotted, as at 38a and 38" of Fig. i, and that the spindle 29 is preferably slotted, as betr-:een 255 and SS, Fig. 7, to permit a limited lateral sliding movement of the bolt 18, or its equivalent, yvith which one or more pallets are rigidly connected, a cylindrical end 3) of what 1 herein term a true or primary pallet et() being shown as rigidly secured to the bolt 1S by a pin vil, and the corresj'ionding end of what l herein term a false or secondary pallet 42, extending parallel with said true pallet being expanded at its upper end and provided With tivo cylindrical terminal portions 13, 43, by which this pallet is sleeved on said bolt in such manner as to permit the interposition of, for example, a compres-:ion spring Ll-l, normally holding thc upper cylindrical portion -li ol' one pallet in contact with the cylindrical end 3U of the other. This construction yieldably retains the respective pallets in the relative positions in which they are shown in solid lines in Figs. 1, 7, 9 and 10, although permitting the respective pallets, ant thereby the bolt 1S, to advance Whenever the combination ot my lock is successfully Worked, as by a proper positioning` of tun'iblers, such as are hereinafter described.

For the purpose last referred to, l maj,v use tumblers of any preferred type; but I consider it especially advantageous to employ, in conjunction with the parts abortl mentioned, or their equivalents, tunibler.- substantially such are shoivn at 'lf2 'l`-'. T3 and '1"1, in Fig. T, with which Figs. .5, 9 and l() may be compared, each tinnhlcr comj'irising a sul'istantially uniform cup these cups beingl economically cut and shaped from sheet metal, or the like, in

It may be redock; and, when numbers, letters, or the like,

are interiorly provided, instead ot displaying the same directly in the cups 45, or their equivalents, l prefer to provide each cup With a correspondingly luted false bottom or number or character plate 50 (see Fig. 8).. This bottom or number plate may optionally be spaced from the bottom 5l ot each cup by means such as a ring 52; and the mentioned false bottoms, lilre the mentioned cups, may all be substantially identical, adapting them to b e inserted at random inthe respective oups, each false bottom plate being provided with numbers from zero to 9 and With a single notch, such as the notch 53, shown as positioned between the numbers 5 and 6, into which notch the pallets 40 and 42, or their equivalents, may advance only when a tumbler comprising the mentioned cup and bottom plate are suitably oriented.

Above each ot the mentioned number plates and directly contacting with the same l may insert st-op discs 54, fiuted similarly to the mentioned plates and each provided with a single stop pin 55 and with slots or notches 56, any one oit these slots or notches being capable or coincidence with the notches 53 in the plates 59, or their equivalents, the angle at which the respective stop devices are set within the respective cups being intended to predetermine a combination number. The mentioned split rings 55, one oi' these rings being positioned above each stop disc 54, may be provided with not only uniform iixed stops 5'?, projecting out Wardly into the path of the mentioned stops 55, adapted to be variously oriented within the respective tumblers, but with pairs of balls 58, or their equivalents, these balls being shown as held Within, although slightly protruding trom, cavities 59, containing springs GO. The construction here referred to is preferably such that the lined split rings 35 seve not only to provide fixed stops for the respective tuinblers, and to provide guide passages between which the pallets may be advanced, (see Fig. 10) but also as spacers pressed by the springs 60, or vtheir equivalents, into sliding engagement with the bottoms ot the superimposed cups ot a seriesy of tumblers; and the balls 58, or their equivalents, may serve not only as bearings and as pressure-transmitting means, but also as means tor yieldably retaining each tumbler in its adjusted position; and also as means for producing a click oi Which one manipulating the coni4 binat-ion may receive auditory information as to the extent of movement oit a tuml from an initial or known position,

New, it Will be obvious that it all the stop discs 54 Were inserted with their stops 55 directly above the 9s, ot the respective number plates (i. e. in the positions in Which these elements are shown in full lines in Fig. 10) then the loclr so adjusted could be opened upon a turning oi' all the tum` blers as tar as possible to the left (in the direction of the arrow until the stops contact with the fixed stops 57. The key number or combination ot' a lock so set would obviously be 9999, but iii, for ef;- ample, the stop plate of the uppermost tumbler T1 Were so inserted as to bring its stop pin immediately above the eight of Fig. 8 (i. e. in the position 55a ol Fig. l0) and it the stop plate o'f the next loiver tumbler T2 were so inserte-d as to bring its stop pin imn'iediately above the sereni7 of its number plate 50 (i. e. in the posit-ion 55 of Fig, 10) then obviously the lrey number of the resultant combination, assuming no cha-nge in the setting of the tumblers T3 and Tt, would be SWW-these being mere examples of the method of setting my permutation locl; to any desired number between 0999 and 9999 t will be appreciated that, in the organization described, a rotation ot any tumbler as far as it Will go in the direction ot the arrows 62 (in an unscrevving direction) is eilective to carry a tumbler to 9 and an opposite movement is effective to carry a tumbler to D To reach such numbers as, tor example, 3, 5, 7, alter the tumblers have been disarranged to prevent an unlocking, it will be obvious that the most eiipedi tions course may involve a turning ot all tumblers to 9 or to 0, after which the respective tumblers may be returned tivo or more steps, as required; and, among the important advantages of the described construction,v I may emphasize the facts that all ot the men- Aioned tumblers are formed from similar units, all numbers reading in the same direction, and the mere click of the balls 58, 5c', as they enter one after another ot' the radial slots 56, may be utilized and relied on to give accurate information as to the movement and consequent position ot any tumbler.

It Will be understood that when the tum` blers are all aligned so that the notches 58 in the bottom plates 50 lie in the same plane with the openings of the xed split rings 35, the mentioned pallet or pallets connected with the bolt 18 may be drawn forward or outward, as by means such as a llO handle or knob 63. This handle or knob is preferably secured directif,rv onlT to the end 4-3 ot the pelle l2. Akennning the indicated `alisormnent o parts, the movement ot this handle auhetantialljyY to the position shovfn in dotted lines in Fig. i (with the result indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 10) may :live to dieengage the dog on the shaft 18 from contact with the Stop Q3 on the plate i6, therebyv enabling, the door il to he opened l v the turning of the knob l5, or bv equivalent means.

ln order that no unauthorized manipulation ot the bolt i8, or its equivalent, shall be o1 the slightest a 'ail in enabling eren a lock expert to tamper With and open a lock ot the general character described, without knowing;- its combination or tirving succes;- sire numbers eystematically, l conoider it advantageous not only to connect a. pair ot poll bv resilient means Such as the spring' to p z-vide one ot these pallets, as; "alecl Awallet l2. -with notches ot sui'nilcient depth and diameter not only to clear at all times the bottoms 5l of the respective cups but to clear also the number platee 50, regardless of the orientation ther-ent', and to enter ivha ever slots 5G, in the stop discs 5l, mag.7 happen to lie opposite the openings in the Split rings 3:. rhue, any premature pull upon the knob 63, or its equivalent, may carrie the talee pa let or its equivalent, to part com )any with the true pz llet l0 zuid to advance into substantially the position in which it is shown in solid lines in Fig. 8,-50 that itc1 teeth or projections 42', enteringboth the slots 56 in the stop plates and the lined openings in the split rings 35, may elle/:tively prevent the rotation ot amv tumbler until the tampering operator Shall release the knob f' .Vhen. hoivev r, the tum- Ui). blers have been turned to their reSpective proper positione, perniitting not onljvv the pallet but the true pallet elf), the latter having narrower notches between teeth lTdl) to be advanced, (these teeth 'lO being', in the organization described` capable ot advancing only when the Slots in the number platee` 50 are turned opposite the same) the outward pressure applied to the true pellet Ll0 by Way olf the springl il is eli' ctive, vvhenever the knob G53 is drawn outward, to advance the said number pallet, all), and thereby the bolt 18, or equivalent, Substantially to the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig". '7.

In the ordinnrj urac ot mv lock. in the described embodiment thereof applicable to a house door or the like, il'y ivill be evident that, bj; ply turning' the knob 2l into such av posnion as to hold the dog;v from engagement with the stop on the plate 1G, the door latch bolt i3, or its equivalent ma;v be exempted from control by my described permutation lock, as may be desirable during' the oreinar)Y dajxliV4 i* i nj i tall, or ivlu-:never desned, the l ,i l l ed as 'to throuv the dogg; t2() into the poif- '-lioun in Se" .e

on in which i?. the l i il.

holt lil. or ite4 ;e sili'iecleil. to son lock; but

4e until .aid hani l"fone desiring to instfad of con'ipletelj.' tumbler?. inf/'eli' notait@ 1`e tumbler T2, ..ied iliiiance in either nodirce :1 preder... when lie Same, he maj, 'ionerl tumbler to 'lli. when tl ad to a pull lent, he may his; absence, i unlock the ulv rotate tnereaiiter rethem. i-'cpziraelv to the ulireiiured l:'v the previous ITuition. {llien the coiu- .ason, to be chanfi'ed, en J or its equivalent, the nin fl, it' cmploved, vn, and one or n: ne olf the rc.-=et bj.' :inv dewired lisnge llination is, 'lor :1" ine lower cui; ele;A ma;T he removed,

=c vvithdr Ao; olf a. :itz/p plate Tritherein. A the parte Y Lnen icaK ilu/ed arl presenting exactly the same n'nal appeal '.f; :f-,ppearance 111:15' he lic-tore.

liirh lie ih the :spirit :inl Seo e i, bolt and movable through a lon' tudiiuil s-iloi' in @aid Spi uli spacing elen'ienrfs couii e is on said Spindle: and enpne.; liked sro l n nrfite tunmiers surroumhng Said .-'.-pmdle` 'each comprising a cup which is provided nai-sacas with a peripheral wall of substantially uniform thickness, fluted to receive internal members lCorrespondingly fluted.

2. A lool; organization as defined in claim 1 in which said tumiblers all comprise substantially identical means whereby their rotation in the same direction brings them all toward their respective zeros.

3. A loolr organization comprising external and manually movable tumblers each comprising: fiuted cup containing1 a correspondingly fiuted and interfittinnj character plate insertable therein as a false bottom and rotatable therewith.

L1. A 'lock organization comprising,- external and manually movable tumbler-s each comprising: a fluted cup containing a. correspondingly iluted and interlittingl Character plate insertable therein as a false bottom and rotatable therewith, each plate being provided with a single radial notch into which, upon suitable positioning of said tumbler, a pallet may be advanced.

5. A look organization comprising external and manually movable tumblers each comprising: a fluted cup containing a character pla-te therein as a false bottom and rotatable therewith, and a stop plate correspondingly fluted to interlit therewith and adapted to lbe variously inserted with reference to said character plate.

6. A lock organization comprising: a spindle carrying exposed tumblers which include substantially uniform oups; and fixed stop means in each cup in the form of a solid split ring heldagainst rotation kon said spindie.

7. A lool: organization Comprising: a spindle carrying` exposed tumblers which include substantially uniform cups; and fixed stop means in each cup in the form of a solid split ringheld against rotation on said spindle and provided with a ball bearing.

8. A lock organization comprising a spindle carrying exposed tumblers which include substantially uniform cups; and fixed stop means in each @up in the form of a solir split ringr held against rotation on said spindle and provided with a ball bearing, each of said split rings being provided with a radially projecting; stop adapted to engage a co-operating` stop which is adapted to be variously positioned within a cup.

9. A loclr organization comprising: a spindle carrying exposed tumblers which inchicle substantially uniform cups; a single stop plate, in. each cup and fixed stop means in each cup in the form of a solid split ring held against rotation on said spindle and provided with means for yieldably retaining the same in any of a plurality of adjusted positions, by engagement with said single stop plate. 10. In a permutation lool; comprising tumblers mounted on a spindle and expod to manual manipulation, a set of tumblers each comprising` a fluted cup and a corre spondingly iluted stop plate variously insertable therein.

11. ln a permutation lool; comprising tumblers mounted on a spindle and exposed to manual manipulation, a set of tumblers each comprising a fluted cup, a number plate, and a correspondingly fluted stop plate vay riously insertable therein with reference to said number plate, the latterbeing provided with a single radial slot.

12. In a permutation lock comprising tumblers mounted on a spindle and exposed to manual manipulation, a set of tumblers each comprising a fluted cup and a correspondingly fiuted stop plate variously in. sertable therein with reference to a number plate provided with a single radial slot, said number plate being spaced from the bottom of said cup.

13. ln a permutation lool; comprising tumblers mounted on a spindle and exposed to manual manipulation, a set of tumblers each comprising a fiuted Cup and a correspondingly fluted stop plate variously insertable therein, said oups being spaced byv means comprising split rings provided with fixed stops.

14. ln a permutation lock comprising tumblers mounted on a spindle and exposed to manual manipulation, pallets extending longitudinally of said spindle, and a set of tumblers each comprising a iiuted cup and a correspondingly fluted stop plate variously insertable therein, said cups being spaced by means comprising split rings provided with fixed stops, and said spindle being slotted to permit lateral movement of said pallets and of a bolt. connected therewith whenever the radial slots of said stop plate are aligned with the opening of said split ring. 15. A permutation lock comprising: a spindle; tumblers rotatable thereon; a bolt laterally movable with reference to said spindle; a plurality of pallets also movable laterally of said Spindle; means for rigidly connecting one of said pallet-s directly with said bolt and a resilient connection between said pallets.

16. A permutation lock comprising: a spindle; tumblers rotatable thereon; a bolt laterally movable with reference to said spindle; a. plurality of pallets also movable laterally of said spindle; means for rigidly connecting one of said pallets directly with said bolt; and resilient means whereby a pull upon another of said pallets may impart movement to said first mentioned pallet and to said bolt when said tumblers are turnedA to their respective unlocking positions.

17. A permutation lock comprising tumblers and a true pallet and a false pallet resiliently connected.

18. A' permutation lock comprising cups containing spacing elements in the forni of solid Split rings, each provided Willi ball bearings resilientljfY pressed onward through one si-.ri'nee thereoi, one surface o' each ring being incidentally pressed toward the bottom ol" an adjacent cup.

19. A pern'iutution lock coinprisii'ig Luniblers's including cups haring *vinile of sniisezub lially uniform thickness, ont nd Shaped from sheet inetl and llued to facilitate manual manipulation and to receive wirioue ly insel-table stop plates correspondingly iluted,y said cups being all substantially identical and disposed *with their boit/anis in the saine direction.

n testimony whereof, I have hereunto ser. my hand :it Los Angeles, Californie, this iSth day of December, 1924.

ELSYORTH E. QUAXNTANCE. 

